DEAR SIR, 1st instant. BANK OF THE VALLEY IN VIRGINIA, I enclose statements shewing the condition of this bank on the 1st day of July 1846 and Very respectfully, Your obd't serv't, H. M. BRENT, Cash'r. To his Excellency WILLIAM SMITH, Governor of Virginia. Due from other banks, Notes discounted, Inland bills discounted, Bond account, State of the BANK OF THE VALLEY IN VIRGINIA, including its Offices of Discount and Specie, Notes of other banks, Deposit, July 1, 1846. Stock purchased to secure a debt, Real estate, In transitu between bank and branches, 50,316 62 Deposit money, 248,831 70 606 09 7,042 95 This day Henry M. Brent, cashier of the Bank of the Valley in Virginia, personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, and made oath that the foregoing exhibits a true state of said bank on the 1st day of July 1846. Given under my hand this 30th day of October 1846. J. P. RIELY, State of the BANK OF THE VALLEY IN VIRGINIA, including its Offices of Discount and Deposit, October 1, 1846. This day Henry M. Brent, cashier of the Bank of the Valley in Virginia, personally appeared before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid, and made oath that the foregoing exhibits a true state of the said bank on the 1st day of October 1846, to the best of his knowledge and belief. Given under my hand this 30th day of October 1846. J. P. RIELY. HARVARD UNIVERSITY. HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Nov. 23, 1846. His Excellency WILLIAM SMITH. SIR, Pos I take the liberty of addressing you in behalf of the library of Harvard college, in relation to the public documents, &c. of Virginia. We have many valuable treatises relating to the early settlement of the state, and several of the volumes of its laws, but we are nevertheless deficient in materials for the historian. It is very desirable that there should be preserved somewhere a complete collection of every thing which relates to the legislation, education, laws, scientific researches, institutions, &c. Without such a collection a historian, however well inclined, never can do justice to a state. He must necessarily misrepresent some things, misunderstand and pervert others, and be unable to do justice to the subject, or give to the state the honour which is its due. terity has not the means of judging as it ought of the deeds, the principles of action, and legislation of their ancestors. And the state itself loses much with future generations and with the world. So far has this subject been disregarded, that I believe there is no state in the Union of which there is a complete collection of the laws and documents in existence. Sometimes war, at other times fires, and more frequently the carelessness and thoughtlessness of persons in office have made sad havoc among them; and consequently there is not probably one state of which a history can be written, which shall do perfect justice to it. There are some reasons for believing that the library of Harvard college would be a very appropriate place for a series of your public documents, &c. The library contains the largest collection of works on America which there is in the world. Historians come to consult it from all parts of the Union. It is therefore very desirable that Virginia should be fully represented on its shelves-that no one may be obliged to take any thing relating to her from second hand authorities,-that her volumes should be here to tell their own history, and by the completeness of the collection, to arrest the attention of the thousands and tens of thousands of people who come here annually. Our library is kept in a building so constructed and guarded that there is no danger from fire. Though every volume in Virginia were to be burnt, you might feel a certainty, if a copy of each were placed here, it would not be harmed by fire and would be safe for posterity. In selecting library officers no regard is had to political or sectarian views, but to qualifications, and of these qualifications carefulness and great exactness are deemed among the most important. Thus there is but very little danger that any thing here will be lost through thoughtlessness or carelessness. The library is accessible to any person who comes to consult it, whether he is in any way connected with the university or not. These and many other more obvious reasons seem to favour the idea that this library is an excellent place to bestow such works. If this suggestion is favourably received, the plan for carrying it into effect might be something like this. Let the legislature pass a standing resolution, instructing the secretary of state, or some other careful and suitable person, to forward to the "public library of Harvard college, Cambridge, Massachusetts," at the close of each session, a perfect and complete collection of every public document, journal, law, map, report, &c. which has been published since the preceding session. Let the secretary be further instructed, whenever he forwards the first parcel, to accompany it with as complete a collection as possible of every thing which has been previously published, as far back as the first settlement of the colony. In this way much will be done to preserve future documents, and something to save what have already been published. We should be glad of every thing published in Virginia, or about Virginia, from the ponderous tome to the small pamphlet, the 4th of July oration, school-book, almanac, any thing and every thing. Nothing would be deemed unimportant. Let Virginia be able to tell her own history about every thing, in its full length and breadth. Give us whatever you will and we will take good care of it. Particularly do we want complete and perfect volumes of the legislative documents. If the resolutions above spoken of be passed, the person who ships the books can forward us a bill of lading at the time of shipment, and then we shall be looking for them upon their arrival. As to the manner of bringing this subject before the legislature, I must leave it to your excellency. I cannot tell what may be proper; but if you feel the importance of it as historians do here, I doubt not it will receive your favourable regards. I have the honour to be, Your humble servant, JOHN LANGDON SIBLEY, Assistant Librarian in Harvard College. RESOLUTIONS OF MICHIGAN. SIR, EXECUTIVE OFFICE, DETROIT, April 15, 1846. I have the honour herewith to transmit to you a copy of "joint resolutions relative to the leasing of mineral land within the state of Michigan," adopted by the legislature of this state, together with copies of two reports on the subject of the rights of Michigan to the mines and minerals within her borders. His Excellency the Governor of Virginia. Very respectfully, Your obed't serv't, ALPHEUS FELCH. JOINT RESOLUTIONS Relative to the Leasing of Mineral Land within the State of Michigan. of the Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the state of Michigan, That all leases of any lands of the United States within this state, by the authority of the United States, are contrary to the interests and policy of this state; in contravention of the acts of congress admitting Michigan into the Union; and an unauthorized exercise of the power to dispose of the public domain within the limits of this state. Resolved, That the governor be requested to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution, together with a copy of the report of the senate committee on public lands, and of the report of the judiciary committee of the senate on the sovereign right of Michigan to the mines and minerals within her borders, to each of our senators and representatives in congress, with a request that the same be presented to their respective bodies, and to the governors of the respective states, with a request that the same be laid before the legislatures thereof. ISAAC E. CRARY, Speaker of the House of Representatives. Approved, April 13th, 1846. ALPHEUS FELCH. WM. L. GREENLY, STATE OF MICHIGAN, STATE DEPARTMENT, SS: I do hereby certify, that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of "Joint resolutions relative to the leasing of mineral lands within the state of Michigan," approved April 13th, 1846, on file and of record in this office. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the great seal of the state of Michigan, at Detroit, this fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six. G. O. WHITTEMORE, Secretary of State. |